Writing for a Cause How do you write about politics and race and gender without being preachy? How do you bring passion to contemporary issues without overwhelming your reader? Former Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata headlines a bill of writers not afraid to tell issues-based stories, including memoirist Elissa Washuta and poet Anastacia Tolbert. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030, hugohouse.org. Free. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PAUL CONSTANT

Darto and Merso Here are two local bands who know how to write both brainy and brawny. Darto takes a Slint-esque angle to pummeling post-hardcore, and Merso plays a stoneriffic take on post-rock. The results in both cases are more than worth your attention. Catch the groups tonight as they enter new eras—Darto’s got a new record on the way and Merso just signed to Seattle’s heavy-centric label Good to Die. With Mr. Bones and Mo Troper + The Assumptions. Office Space, ask a punk for directions. All ages. 8:30 p.m. KELTON SEARS

Thursday, May 5

Klara Glosova: Caddy Shack Seattle artist Klara Glosova has a knack for drawing deep emotions from everyday scenery, often related to sports. Her latest show of multimedia work takes inspiration from two slapstick moments in the film Caddyshack to confront the uncertainty of life with humor and sensitivity. GLASS BOX Gallery, 831 Seattle Blvd. S., 284-2427, glassboxgallery.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. T.S. FLOCK

Peter Ferguson: Lifeboats of a Sinking Witch The moody, earthy, surreal, and darkly humorous paintings of Peter Ferguson sometimes recall the Dutch masters in style and composition, but the content feels more contemporary—an alternate timeline, always wintry, on the brink of war and populated with giant pet insects. Roq La Rue Gallery, 532 First Ave., roqlarue.com. Free. All ages. 6 p.m. TF

Martha Graham Dance Company Martha Graham died in 1991, and the company that still bears her name has been searching for a way forward ever since. The challenge is to keep a balance between the founder’s iconic works and new choreography that builds on that heritage. On the current tour, the new work makes strides in that direction, but it’s the classics like the story of Medea in Cave of the Heart that bring us back. Meany Theater, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $50–$55. 8 p.m. Thurs., May 5–Sat., May 7. SANDRA KURTZ

Neal Bascomb Neal Bascomb’s new book, The Hidden Fortress, is a nonfiction historical thriller about the plot to sabotage the Nazi quest for the atomic bomb. Bascomb moved to Seattle late last year and is still getting to know the city; let’s be neighborly by supporting his excellent new book. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave,, 322-7030, hugohouse.org. Free. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PC

The Body Portland’s The Body is easily one of the most consistent, challenging, genre-defying bands operating right now. Case in point: The duo’s excellent new record, No One Deserves Happiness, is as inspired by industrial, noise, and doom metal as by traditional choral music, Beyoncé, and hip-hop. Oh, and pack earplugs—this duo has one of the loudest shows I’ve ever seen. With The Rita, WORKDEATH, Gordon Ashworth, Anteinferno. Highline, 210 Broadway E., highlineseattle.com. $10–$12. 21 and over. 9 p.m. KS

Living Small Seattle is growing like mad and rent is too damn high. So let’s go smaller, say urbanists—way smaller. Innovative examples of microhousing from the densest parts of Copenhagen, New York, Stockholm, and Tokyo are on display this month downtown, featuring Japanese tiny houses, Manhattan “apodments,” and a Danish “three-dimensional neighborhood” that connects its teeny living spaces by bike path. Center for Architecture & Design, 1010 Western Ave., 667-9184. Free. Opening reception 5 p.m. Thurs., May 5. Open Tues.–Sat. Ends June 11. SARA BERNARD

Friday, May 6

Jack Straw Writers Series The first three Fridays of May, Jack Straw Productions presents local participants in their annual Writers Program, which trains writers to be better communicators. Tonight’s readers include Robert Lashley and Shin Yu Pai, two of the most talented poets the area has to offer. Jack Straw Cultural Center, 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E., 634-0919, jackstraw.org. $5. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

Way & Co. Mixtape Release Party If you’re curious about Seattle’s underground music scene, Way & Co.’s new 18-band mixtape is a great place to start. Tonight’s free release show features sets from the effervescent tropicália chillers in iji as well as the Pavement-worshippers in Great Grandpa, who have a great song entitled “Cheeto Lust.” With Versing. Everyday Music, 1520 10th Ave., wayand copresents.com. Free. All ages. 6:30 p.m. KS

Kris Orlowski For his fifth full-length album, Often in the Pause, Seattle songwriter Orlowski has turned a corner. Long a seeker in his songs—of love, of understanding, of musical epiphany—he has now seemingly hit a wall and is for the first time entertaining thoughts of doubt and resignation, all filtered through his crooning baritone and a heavy-footed guitar-pop sound. The results are powerful and moving, and a sign that while he should continue to explore doubt, he should never give into it. With the Hollers, Silver Torches. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. $20 adv. All ages. 8:30 p.m. MARK BAUMGARTEN

Sunday, May 8

Mother’s Day Crafting Party Look, it’s OK that you didn’t get your mom something for Mother’s Day. But the least you can do is take her to this crafting party with Sewing Happiness author Sanae Ishida. You’ll make new memories with the woman who gave you life, and Ishida might read from her kids’ book about a ninja. It’s a win-win. Queen Anne Book Company, 1811 Queen Anne Ave. N., 284-2427, qabookco.com. Free. All ages. 3 p.m. PC

Monday, May 9

Todd Lockwood Nobody paints a goddamned dragon like Todd Lockwood. The badass fantasy cover artist, who, I would like to reiterate, paints dragons for a living, now makes the leap from painting covers of fantasy novels to the writers’ chair. His debut novel, The Summer Dragon, promises “an exciting new take on the dragon-riding genre.” Sold! University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., 634-3400, bookstore.washington.edu. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

Tuesday, May 10

David Rolf Not so long ago, conservatives mocked Seattle’s push for a $15 minimum wage. Now California and New York are scrambling to follow our lead. Local SEIU president David Rolf presents The Fight for Fifteen, his account of how Seattle adopted $15 and his explanation why the rest of the country needs to catch the hell up. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, townhallseattle.org. $5. All ages. 7 p.m. PC